Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 577

The cider, with its generous helping of ice, was doubly refreshing. I swirled the glass gently, chilling it further, then downed it in one go. After all, the taste goes flat when the ice melts, right? “Kuhh…” Yeah, that’s the stuff. How much I missed this taste. This world is bearable, except for the lack of carbonated drinks. You can find some fizz in beer, but even that feels very different from the modern stuff. ‘…Should I go back?’ The taste was enough to reignite the almost-extinguished desire to return. Baekho Lee needs to know. If he had offered me cider a few times instead of droning on about the Stone of Rebirth, I might have seriously considered going back. “Elder, one more glass, please.” After finishing one glass, I got a refill. This time, however, I didn’t gulp it down but savored the taste slowly. “You… you look genuinely happy?” Geez, making a person feel awkward. People like us tend to suddenly feel bad when we hear such words, even when we’re happy. “Now, then, tell me. How did you meet her?” “Ah, you mean the witch?” “Yes. I just can’t understand it. No matter how I think about it, there shouldn’t have been any situation where you could have met her…” Hmm. “How can you be so sure, Elder?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, and Auriel Gavis turned into a mute, rolling his eyes. “…….” Honestly, it was creepy. What, were you really monitoring my every move? How, exactly? While I was pondering, the old man smoothly changed the subject like a slippery eel. “First of all, it wasn’t in the first basement, right? And I remember you being very busy at that time. With clan matters, the Magic Tower, and even catching two Floor Masters during that period, wasn’t it?” Well, it’s true that I was busy. I was already swamped with things to do, and on top of that, I was sued by Count Alminus, so I was out of my mind. But that doesn’t mean the old man’s words don’t sound like an excuse. “You’ve already finished it. Give it here. I’ll pour you another glass.” As soon as my glass was empty, Auriel Gavis quickly took it and refilled it. It’s a bit of a strange thing to say, but in some ways, this old man was very consistent. Should I say his switching between being the boss and the subordinate is like a ghost? “Elder, no matter what you do, I can’t tell you for free. I need to get something out of it too.” I drew a firm line, and Auriel Gavis, who had dropped his mask since we were alone, flared up. “Free? What are you talking about? Didn’t I pour you cider like this!” “Yes. I’m grateful for that.” “A person should be truly grateful—” Hey, you’re crossing the line. “If cider was all it took, why do we have money and mana stones? Just pour a glass of cider and it’s over?” I openly sneered, and Auriel Gavis’s expression hardened. “I always feel this, but you have a talent for making people feel unpleasant.” He was smiling like a friendly old neighbor, but suddenly he became serious, and I felt a considerable amount of pressure. But, so what? It’s not like I haven’t experienced this situation once or twice. I’ve also figured out this old man by now. “Don’t pretend to be angry. It won’t work anyway.” I actually brushed it off without a care, and Auriel Gavis returned to his original expression as if he had never been angry. “Heh heh, you’re not easy either. So, what is it that you want from me?” The only thing you can offer a wild horse that doesn’t respond to the whip is a carrot. “You must want something, that’s why you’re acting like this, right?” Actually, there’s nothing I particularly want. No, to be precise, there are too many things I want to ask, so I’m having trouble choosing. Therefore, I need to prioritize… ‘Asking what he’s plotting is too broad.’ In the end, after much deliberation, I decided on a more specific question. “Why are you trying to shut down the Ghost Busters?” A question about the motive behind the old man’s most recent action. “Hmm, is it okay to just answer? There’s no gem to hide the truth here.” It sounded like he could create a new gem right away if I wanted, but I just declined. “It’s fine, just try it. It’s not like I can 100% believe it even if there was one.” “So you’ll judge whether it’s the truth or not.” “Yes. So answer well. If you lie and get caught, it’s your loss, Elder.” “Loss?” “Because I’ll never believe anything you say in the future.” It might sound childish, but this time it was a threat that would be quite effective. After all, this old man wants to control me like a puppet from behind. He needs to maintain a good relationship somehow… “Hmm…” But why is this old man staring at me with those perverted eyes instead of answering? “What? Do you have something to say?” “No.” “No, you were about to say something just now.” I looked at him with eyes that said, ‘Are you messing with me from the start?’, and Auriel Gavis reluctantly opened his mouth. “It’s just that, I was a little impressed.” “……?” “Your attitude towards trust.” What is this, some nonsense about eating straw sandals while hanging from the roof? [A Korean idiom for doing something completely absurd.] I looked at him with that expression, and the old man continued. “If someone betrays you, there will be punishment. That’s what trust is to you.” Isn’t that the same for everyone? So, if you’re betrayed, you just laugh it off? While thinking that, I held back and listened. “Just as people don’t easily commit crimes when the law is strict, your trust is established by having a means to punish—” Ah, I really can’t listen to this. Just listening to him talk makes it sound like I’m a severe paranoid who can’t trust people unless I’m in a superior position. I asked directly. “Elder, do you have a problem with your head? No, how on earth do you interpret what I said like that?” “Hmm…” “First, think about what you did first. What am I supposed to believe?” “Then, is it different for your companions?” Of course, it is. …I was about to answer that, but for some reason, I couldn’t answer right away. It was because the old man’s words from a moment ago came to mind. [If someone betrays you, there will be punishment.] Punishment. Maybe what I did to Misha was one of those things? I don’t know, but let’s end this topic here. “…Never mind, just answer the question. Why are you trying to close this place?” “If I answer the question, will you answer too?” To the old man’s question, I answered without a moment’s hesitation. “I’ll listen first, and if I think it’s worth it.” In other words, I’m ready to run away at any time. *** An ambiguous answer, not a definite one. Auriel Gavis must have clearly recognized the meaning behind that nuance. But… “Good. Then listen and decide.” For some reason, the old man agreed to my proposal without any fuss. “As expected, Elder, you’re cool as always today?” “…Can you stop switching your attitude so quickly? It makes me feel like I’m trying to coax a child.” “It’s just your imagination. Your imagination.” “…….” “So, what’s the answer?” I asked with a gentle smile, and Auriel Gavis sighed deeply and answered. “The reason for closing the Ghost Busters is simple. This place is not having a good effect on the players right now. Unlike my intentions.” “Not having a good effect?” “This place is like a haven for the players. They share stories of their hometowns and comfort each other’s loneliness.” “Then why is it having a bad effect?” “That’s the problem. Humans who are satisfied with the present tend to settle down.” “Ah…” I think I know what he means. In fact, you can easily notice that atmosphere just by looking at the free bulletin board. You can easily find posts about discussing house prices, getting married, or even having children. “Those friends from earlier are the same. A few years ago, they would never have missed such an opportunity.” It seems that this old man believes that the OX quiz ended so anticlimactically because of that kind of mentality. Well, he’s not wrong, but still. “So you’re going to get rid of it? Because if this place is running, everyone won’t think about going back home?” “You can roughly see it that way.” You can roughly see it that way… It’s obvious that there’s a lot more he’s not saying. “So, how is it? Is this enough?” “No. Unless there was some great secret hidden, it’s too low in value to exchange for the witch’s information, that’s my conclusion.” In short, I’m going to do a hit-and-run. However, surprisingly, Auriel Gavis’s expression was calm. It was as if he had nothing to lose even if the conversation ended like this. Is he pretending to be calm to maintain the initiative? In the end, I was the one who spoke first. How could I end this meeting without any gain? “So, what I’m saying is…” “…….” “Can’t you just leave the community alone? Then I’ll give you the witch’s information.” Actually, it wasn’t that I wanted to protect the community. I was just curious about Auriel Gavis’s reaction to this proposal—. “That’s impossible.” Yeah, it’s a rejection. It means that closing the community has a higher priority than getting the witch’s information. Then what could be the reason? No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the reason is that the players’ minds have become lax. “Then today’s story ends here.” “Yes. Anyway, you wouldn’t answer even if I asked in detail, would you?” “Heh heh, you need to trust people a little more.” “I trust people well. People who are trustworthy.” I answered so soullessly, and the conversation was slowly heading towards a conclusion. “I should go now. There’s one more thing I need to do before the closure. Then, see you next time.” “Yes. Whenever that may be, please tell me everything next time we meet.” “That’s a strange thing to say. I can actually tell you everything right now. If you’re ready to believe everything I say.” Geez, you’re so full of lies. I snorted in disbelief, and Auriel Gavis laughed as if he expected that. And… “I don’t know if you’ll believe me or not, but I’ll give you one last piece of advice.” “Advice? I’ll listen, so go ahead and say it.” “Baekho Lee.” “Baekho Lee…?” “Don’t get too close to that friend.” It was a random statement, but I didn’t have time to ask anything. “That’s all the advice. See you later.” With those words, Auriel Gavis left the round table, and I, who was watching the spot blankly, slowly regained my senses and organized my thoughts. It was because of a possibility that suddenly came to mind. ‘Baekho Lee…’ Maybe… It’s not certain yet, but still, maybe. Could it be that the reason Auriel Gavis is trying to close the community is because of this guy? Like burning down a thatched house to catch fleas [a Korean idiom for overreacting to a minor problem], if this community disappears, the way for me to communicate with Baekho Lee will be blocked. Well, in the end, it’s all just my speculation, so it doesn’t mean anything. “Damn old man. How come you never say anything properly until the very end?” The murmur I let out with a sigh echoed emptily in the hall. “…….” A strange sense of silence. The empty seat with only a chair and the round table where the gem, the symbol of the assembly, had disappeared. ‘It really feels like it’s over.’ I thought about going out and doing my work, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Should I say it doesn’t feel real? The deer antlers and crescent moon left on the first round, and then Auriel Gavis appeared, and one by one, they left the assembly. Thud. I picked up the lion mask that I had taken off while drinking cider and put it on my head. This will probably be the last time I wear this mask. I’ve grown quite attached to it. “Is this really the end…” It’s hard to say, but it feels somewhat empty. I didn’t imagine a cheerful atmosphere like a graduation ceremony, but I never thought it would end like this. Is that why? [I can’t say thank you.] [Do you really think this is fun? You?] For some reason, the last words of the two people keep echoing in my ears. However, I shook my head and cleared my mind. ‘What’s with this sentimental mood? It’s not like we gathered to socialize in the first place.’ I chuckled and took off the mask, placing it on the round table, then glanced around the empty table. “…It’s not fun.” That’s how the last assembly ended. *** Back in Lee Hansoo’s room after watching the end of the round table. After lying on the bed for a while, I pulled myself together and sat in front of the computer to check my inbox. ‘There’s one message, but…’ Contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t a message from the GM that I was waiting for. [Sender: HS123] HS123. That is, a message from Hyunbyul. Well, I didn’t even get to say goodbye properly because of Baekho Lee earlier. So, what could be written in the message? Click, click. I opened the message, and the contents inside unfolded. [I know that you drew a line first when we talked about revealing our identities before. But I’m going to do what I want now. I can’t say much about my identity in a message because the staff might be secretly watching.] In the end, the main point was in the last line. [Let’s meet outside.] Outside… First, I need to escape from the labyrinth quickly.